There was a lot of reminiscing and stories told at Terara Public School when eight retired staff members, with more than 180 years of combined service to the school, gathered to dedicate a special monument in their honour.
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In 2015 when Janelle Moogan retired from Terara Public after 21 years she donated a sign to the school to recognise the staff who retired from working with the Department of Education at the school.
In the school’s 138 year history, records show only 11 staff have retired from the school, with most staff moving onto other positions or schools.
Of that 11 staff, eight are still living, embracing retirement.
Those eight (named in order of retirement) Peter Geyer, Ted Clarke, Kathy Vanteunenbroek, Sue Cato, Bronwynne McMahon, Janelle Moogan, Lynette Riches (Bu) and Robyn Jamieson, gathered at the school.
The sign also includes former principals Arthur Urch and Doug Folkard and groundsman Jim McMahon who have previously passed away.
The memorial garden, in which the retiree sign is located, was established by Mrs Moogan and Mrs Jamieson, originally as a tribute to Jimmy Little, who attended Terara Public for six years.
“The garden now represents a part of the community spirit of the school, which is a very important aspect of the success of schools, particularly small schools,” Mrs Moogan said.
The garden contains various plaques and plants commemorating the Centenary of Federation, Australia’s Defence Forces, Jimmy Little’s life, shared Aboriginal knowledge and the Terara Country Festival.
“It is a special reflective place and stands as a tribute to a very historically important school,” Mrs Moogan said.
Peter Geyer worked at Terara for three years (from February 1988 - July 1991) and Ted Clarke nine years (July 1991 - January 2000) , both as principals.
Teachers Sue Cato 34 years (1977 - 2010), Janelle Moogan 21 years (1995 - 2015), Lynette Riches (1991 - 2015) and Robyn Jamieson 27 years (1990 - 2016).
Support staff Kathy Vanteunenbroek 33 years and Bronwynne McMahon 28 years (1983 - 2010) and still going, having returned to work casually.
Mr Geyer, now 82, said the school had “changed a bit” since his retirement “but not a great deal”.
“I enjoyed my three years here. It was a very good school, with good staff and great parents and a P and C that was very supportive,” he said.
Ted Clarke followed Mr Geyer, in fact he also took over from him at his previous school at St Georges Basin.
“Terara was a great school, you had staff like Mrs Cato and Mrs Moogan who were both recipients of Premier’s Awards for Education, Mrs Mac (Bronwynne McMahon) as office manager who was second to none and Mrs Jamieson who was a jack of all trades. Then there was Harry Hoogendoorn, who the kids and parents just loved,” he said.
“They all had strengths and we all had weaknesses but we worked together as a team.”
With 34 years service Mrs Kato was the longest serving staff member among the group and admits there has been many changes since she started at the school in 1977.
“Changes in education and the way we teach things and also changes in the kids,” she said.
“Technology is such a big part now. But kids are kids you just have to find that thing that sparks their interests.”
Terara takes on special meaning for Ms Riches, whose children and now grandchildren have attended the school.
“I was able to teach my children and two of my grandchildren. Not many teachers can boast that,” she said.
Mrs Moogan, took over the Friendly Games when Harry Hoogendoorn left the school and with the help of the Shoalhaven City Turf Club took the fun student event to even greater heights developing it into the “World Famous” Friendly Games.
“Terara is a beautiful school with very supportive staff and community who all worked together with the aim of the children ending up the best they can be,” she said.
Currently on long service leave Mrs Jamieson won’t actually retire until the end of next year.
“I started in the library in 1990 having moved here from St Georges Basin School,” she said.
“Terara is a school with a very strong and committed parent body,” she said.
Although retiring twice, Mrs McMahon continues to do casual work as a permanent staff member in the school office.
“It is a lovely school. There is just something special here,” she said.
Kathy Vanteunenbroek spent 33 years as the school cleaner but her association with Terara School goes back way further, she actually started at the school as a student in 1949.
“I have a lot of memories and fond memories of this place,” she said.
“It is a very special place.”
Proud history
Education at Terara has a long and proud history.
In the 1860s and ’70s the educational needs of Terara were met by a denominational school attached to St John’s Church of England in Millbank Road.
In 1875 Terara’s Local School Council made an application for the establishment of a public school.
The parents of over 130 pupils promised to support the new school, with land provided.
In 1878 a teacher was appointed to Terara by the Council of Education.
As there was no new site or building the council took control of the church school.
Terara School was born with 37 students enrolled by the end of that year.
By the end of 1881 more than 100 children were enrolled.
During 1880 the Council of Education was replaced by the Department of Education and had the power to resume land.
Two acres were resumed from the de Mestre Estate in 1881 and the plans of 1876 were accepted for the two-room school building and attached residence. It took nearly three years to build the school with the building first occupied in May 1883.